The Veterinary Medical Center and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories are in need of homemade masks. Here’s how you can help.

Effective Sunday, March 15 at 11:59 p.m., the MSU Veterinary Medical Center is closing to all non-emergencies until further notice. Specialty services will remain open to emergencies for both large and small animal patients. All existing, deemed non-emergent appointments after Sunday, March 15 will be postponed and rescheduled when the Hospital resumes full operation.

The Hospital has taken necessary precautions to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19 for hospital workers and clients. These include:

• Employee screening: any employee who is sick must stay home and remain home for three days after their symptoms are gone
• Social distancing and staggered work shifts have been implemented on-site
• Cloth masks are being worn at times when specific respiratory PPE is not indicated (such as walking the halls or during rounds) to help prevent droplet dispersion

These protective measures do not impact or change the Hospital’s ability to work with clients during the pandemic. For more information on how the Veterinary Medical Center is working with patients, please review the Hospital’s revised operations.

Effective Monday, March 16, the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will limit foot traffic and personal interactions to help protect clients and personnel. Signs will be posted and a new phone recording will provide details to those who call in. Please note the following changes:

• Clients dropping off samples will find a drop-off station inside the front entrance. That station will be monitored frequently so that samples are handled in a timely manner.
• Clients bringing animals for necropsy and/or cremation will be directed to the back of the building and provided a phone number to call for assistance. They will not need to leave their vehicle.
• Only MSU employees will be permitted access to the VDL building.

At this time, 2020 commencement ceremonies are cancelled. The College regrets this necessary decision and will be assessing opportunities to reschedule commencement for a later date.

Leadership at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine will continue to monitor COVID-19 and post important updates for faculty, staff, students, and the public on this web page. These updates will include breaking news about any necessary closures or quarantines. The College’s internal community also can access additional details via the College’s intranet.

MSU is committed to public health, civility, and the wellbeing of students. A University committee is hard at work on contingency plans to accommodate those affected by COVID-19. In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19, employees of the College are engaging in remote work and telecommunication to the extent that is possible.

The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to support our students, hospital patients, and community.

Stay on top of how COVID-19 is affecting the University with MSU’s COVID-19 website.

MSU experts came together on March 13 for a panel discussion on COVID-19 from their perspectives. Topics discussed range from the scientific facts about coronaviruses to how to limit the spread of infection in hospitals and what MSU is doing for students.

Monitor the spread of COVID-19 in real time with HealthMap, a map that uses AI and other technologies to monitor the spread of the virus. This map is affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital. You can read more about HealthMap from The Wall Street Journal.